Feik squadron cadet completes first solo flight in a glider

9/13/2017 — PETERSBURG, WV — Cadet 1st Lt. Edward “Eddie” Pugh of Civil Air Patrol Maryland Wing’s Col. Mary S. Feik Composite Squadron in Annapolis, Md., completed his first glider solo in an IAR Brasov IS-28B2 “Twin Lark” (N28DG) at the Grant County Airport (W99) in Petersburg, WV. The flight was observed by his mom and dad, his flight instructor and a handful of other pilots operating from the airport at the time.

Pugh’s solo flight was his 62nd glider flight and marked the culmination of more than a year’s effort of study and training in both aerotow and winch launching in two different gliders. Pugh attended his first CAP glider academy in June 2016 and a second glider academy in July 2017; however, he was unable to solo at the second glider academy this past year. Eddie subsequently completed his five cadet glider orientation rides and additional flight training in August 2017 via the recently re-invigorated Maryland Wing glider program now operating using a winch launch and glider provided by the commercial glider operator at the Grant County airport.

Pugh remarked that his solo flight was the quietest ride he’d had yet (i.e., without the instructor in the backseat) and his flight instructor noted that the flight was Eddie’s best yet with an exceptionally smooth and accurate landing. Cadet 1st Lt. Pugh has been awarded his glider solo wings for his accomplishment.

Over 1,500 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at 4.6 million dollars. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at mdwg.cap.gov.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s cadet programs. Visit http://www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.

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Photo: Cadet 1st Lt. Edward Pugh of the Col. Mary S. Feik Composite Squadron sits in the glider he soloed in next to his instructor, Lt. Col. Brian Collins.